Carmel man's PetJets business escorts pets traveling by plane

It's a good thing when the fur flies around Craig D. Anapol, owner of PetsJets, a business that provides a personal escort for pets traveling by plane.

Anapol, a former economic analyst for the airline industry, started searching for a way to combine his passion for air travel with his love for animals after the death of his black Labrador retriever. Already bi-coastal, his time divided between Carmel and midtown Manhattan as a Realtor for Alain Pinel, Anapol thought PetsJets seemed like the perfect solution.

Friends may tease him for "running an escort service for animals," but Anapol said his service really helps people and their beloved pets.

"Pets are like family," said Anapol. "People want to make sure their pets are safe when they travel."

Pet travel is popular, with 60 percent of our four-legged friends traveling with their owners, according to a 2010 summer travel survey by PetRelocation.com. Pet safety is a priority for 71 percent of respondents to the 2011 travel report.

The most frequent PetsJets requests come from people moving to a new area who don't mind driving with their belongings, but want to spare their pets the road trip. Other reasons people ask for Anapol include: out-of-state breeders wanting to ship puppies to new owners, multiple-pet owning clients who need another person on the plane to meet airline requirements for one person on board per pet, and overseas travelers who want their pet to join them without taking every step of the grand tour.

The cost is determined by the lowest possible airfare, the carry-on fee for the pet ($100 to $200, depending on the airline) and a service fee of $85 per hour for domestic travel and $95 per hour for international travel.

On his inaugural flight in September 2011, Anapol flew from Dulles International Airport in Virginia to San Francisco with Bella, a young Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Her new owners in Pebble Beach already knew Anapol and trusted him to safely deliver their puppy.

It might seem like a bad time to start a new business, but Anapol said the recession hasn't affected him. More than 30 pets have flown under his wing this year. The most unusual destination was a trip to Jakarta with a dog. His most exotic companion will be the African grey parrot scheduled to fly across the country with him later this month. He's had an inquiry about riding a ship to Italy, but nothing confirmed.

"I'll go anywhere," said Anapol.

His own extensive travels make it easy for him to manage any itinerary. He believes his "mellow" approach helps animals stay calm, too. One key to a successful trip is reserving a seat in the last row, by the window, where pets feel more secure, he said. He also favors night flights — but never the last flight out — for quieter journeys. And he always insists on an enclosed room for the security check, so there's no chance for a pet to escape.

Most clients find him through online searches. He doesn't have any competition in the area, and few rivals in the country, although one company headquartered in Austin, Texas, was founded by former San Francisco resident Kevin O'Brien. The majority of pet travel services help owners navigate the paperwork and plane reservations, but the pets still end up in cargo — alone.

This year, 31 animals have been lost, injured or killed during air travel, according to reports submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation's research and innovative technology administration. In 2011, two pets were lost during air travel, nine were injured and 35 died.

"The hardest part is when I have to give them back," said Anapol. "I've bonded with them."